[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 31, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75493-75494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-32233]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D 110403A]


Endangered Species; File No. 1418

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Lawrence D. Wood, Marinelife 
Center of Juno Beach, 14200 U.S. Hwy. 1, Juno Beach, FL, 
33408, has been issued a permit to take hawksbill sea turtles 
(Eretmochelys imbricata) for purposes of scientific research.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)713-0376;
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (727)570-5301; fax (727)570-5320.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Opay, (301) 713-1401 or Carrie 
Hubard, (301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 20, 2003, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (68 FR 27535) that a request for a scientific research 
permit to take hawksbill sea turtles had been submitted by the above-
named individual. The requested permit has been issued under the 
authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the regulations governing the taking, 
importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 
parts 222-226).
    The applicant will hand capture, handle, measure, Passive 
Integrated Transponder (PIT) and flipper tag, photograph, tissue 
sample, paint a

[[Page 75494]]

number on the carapace of, and release up to 75 hawksbill sea turtles 
annually. Only 6 turtles will be initially marked with the painted 
number to test the efficacy of the this procedure, and future decisions 
concerning the value and use of this technique will be based on the 
results. The purpose of the research is to determine the abundance, 
distribution and movement patterns of this species. It will also 
provide growth rate information about these turtles and the researcher 
will determine the feasibility of photographic identification through 
unique individual characteristics. The permit duration is 5 years.
    Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that such permit (1) was applied for in good faith, (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of the endangered species which is the 
subject of this permit, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: December 23, 2003.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-32233 Filed 12-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S